lou: $600 billion in taxes? >> spending reductions and tax increases. the economy can't handle that. without a doubt, head into recession if we're over the cliff. lou: now, are you in agreement? >> i am, carl's absolutely right, nevertheless, the markets have effectively been yawning. equity markets, go higher, corporate credit market improves, commodity prices rising, and the ten-year treasury yield is dipping to new lows. i can't figure this out. everybody seems to -- lou: i know -- >> they are in a mood, and that worries me. somebody has to be wrong, and big time. >> yawning until they don't. that's the concern. lou: i know this would be stunning and alarming to economists who would never contemplate themselves being wrong on this, but is this some possibility that everyone is wrong about this? that these are actually men and women of good will in both parties who are beginning to come together in one great warm embrace sometime before christmas day and give the nation such a great boost of spirit of good will and reach agreement here? >> i don't kno